Low-water indicator



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,452,373

R. 1.. SCOVILLE LOW WATER INDICATOR Filed April 5, 1921 EL Scovz'lfe@514 ad, GHQ 0440,13

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Patented Apr. 17, 1923.

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ROYAL L. SCOVILLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIG-NOR TO EDWIN M. ROSENBLUTH,OF

- WALLINGFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

' LOW-WATER INDICATOR.

Application filed April 5, 1921. Serial No. 458,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that ROYAL L. SoovlLnn, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at 50 Church Street, New Yorkcity, in the county ofKings and State of New York, has invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Low-VVater Indicators, of which the following is aspecification.

'This invention relates to low-water indicators especially adapted forthe radiators of automobiles. One object of the invention is to reducethe cost of manufacture of such indicators and at the same time torender them more reliable and unaffected by weather conditions. Thefurther object of the invention is to improve the operation of suchindicators so that they will not be affected by the surging of the water-in the radiator whereby the indicator will show the mean level of thewater without registering temporary variations in the level.' A stillfurther object of the invention is to prevent effectively the water theradiator from escaping or splashing out through the cap and attachedindicator. A still further object is to design-an indicator ofuniversal,

application to all makes of cars.

Referring to the drawings in which the preferred forms of the inventionare shown:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the radiator cap and low-waterindicator as it is attached to the automobile radiator.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail and side elevation showing a slightlymodified form of connection between the float and the push rod.

modification.

of valve or cup member located at the bottom of the float container.

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the lower portion of a modifiedform of container float and cup valve.

The upper portion, of anautomobile radiator is indicated at 1 with theusual filling spout at 2. Preferably, my invention is attachedto andforms apart of the radiator cap 3 which is shown as threaded in thespout 2 at 4:. The upper portion of the cap 5 is provided with a slot 6in which is pivoted on pin 7 an indicator arm 8. -When thearm is in the.position shown in Fig, 1

Fig.1 3 is a'similar view of a still further the outer end 9 of the sameprojects abo e the general contour of the cap so as to be plainlyvisible from the drivers seat. To render it easily discernible it may beespecially colored or highly polished and may also he provided with aluminous button 10 containing radio-active material. When the arm,however, is in the lowered position, it lies entirely within the generalcontour of the cap and is invisible from the drivers seat. i

The upper portion 5 of. the cap is shown as threaded on a tube 11 offairly small bore. Also threaded on said tube is a nut 12 which clampsthe cap firmly against the upper portion5. Said tube extends downwardlybelow the mouth of the filling cap and is preferably provided adjacentits lower end with a threaded collar 13 or other enlargement. T hecontainer proper 14 for the float is shown as threaded on saidcollar 13.Said container may be made of brass tubing or the like which ispreferably drawn or swaged inwardly at the bottom thereof to provide anannular stop 15 limiting the downward movement of the float 16. Saidcontainer 1 1 may be very little longer than the float itself since thepurpose of my indicator is not so much to show the exact Waterlevel asmerely to indicate where the water in the radiator gets dangerously lowor, in other words, falls about to the level of the top of the radiatingtubes. For connecting the indicator Sand the float, I have shown a wire17 pivoted at 18 to the indicator and at 19 to an intermediate valvemember 20. Said member 20 is shown as formed of a conical piece 21having secured to the bottom thereof as by means of a set screw 22 andwasher 23, a rubber washer 24: or other valve member. When the member 21is raised by the float, it can readily be seen that the washer 24% willseat against annular valve seat .25 on the lower end of the tube 11,thereby effectively preventing Water from being forced up the tube 11and out of the top of the cap. The float 16 is shown as connected towasher 23 by hook 24' and an eye 25, the former being shown on thewasher and the latter on the float. It will be seen that by this hookand eye connection between the float and member 22 and also the hook andeye connection 19 between the member 21 is shown in Fig. l as in theform of a cup fitting the lower rounded portion of the float and theannular inwardly curved lower portion oi the containerl l.

' The action of the valve 26 in preventing undue actuation '01- theindicator is as follows: -As the radiator is being filled and the Waterrises around the voutside ot the container 16, the pressure speedilylifts the member 26 and the Heat 16 seated thereon and new into theinterior of the container, the air therein being forced out through theuppervent 27 Thewaterspeedily gets be,-

ttve'en the member 26 and the float vher'e-r upon the member 26 settlesupon its seat 15 While the float rises until valve 22 is seated againstvalve seat 24; and the indicator 3 ture 28 at'tli'e loiverportionthereof so as is'flbwerfed, If noiv tl'iefleyel or the vater sli'ouldtemporarily "fall below the loiver end of the container 14 the Waterinside said container would not escape. immedi'atel'y'but would maintainthe" float in its elei ated position untitthe normal ivaterlevel:wasyrestor ed, In order tl' atvvater may not be permanently trappedWithinsaid container 14 'and thus not only interfere ivith the properfunctioning thereof when the Water got perm'an en'tlylow hut'also renderthe same subject "to damage freezing in cold Weather, I have providedthe cap with a small aperto drain the same sl oivlyfSaid aperture may becovered with wire gauge 29 it de sired as llustrated in l? 1g. fl. Alsosaid aperture may be dispensed with it pro-- vision is made so, that thevalve .member 0 'fia a a ua This may be accomplished by corrugating thesame as indicated at. 26 in Fig. the lovver end of' the container being;in; dicated at 15 and the float at 16" in this figure. A simple forin ofhook and eye con ne'ction betiveen the flo'at and member 22 is sh'ovvnFig. 3' vherein .thehoole 30 is secured to the top of the float 16avhilethe eye is format. by a hole through the head 31 of In my indicator itshould be observe di 'the upper vent 27 in the float cha er is normallybeloiv the ivaterilevel asfijvell as thebottom"opening This also is useu'l in preventing improper, actuation; fit si tl 'e te t- 'In inventionit is unnecessary to se cure the flo'atlfi tmthe member 21, since its;

movement is thoroughly guided and limited;

g qgiagf 15. Sush i iQ ti i is sh wn; In Fig, J h re e k b .4 1 s thehead 31 0f set screw 23', the head be ing preferably hollowed out at 41to forni I a universal connection; a

Particular attention is called to the fact that my construction permitsemploying a much smaller diameter intermediate'niember 1.1 thanthe floatchamber 1% between the latter and the cap 3, thereby permitting me toemploy a float of substantial diameter and at the same time notinterior" ing with the placing of the indicator in the radiator. On somemakes of automobiles, the drainage pipe, eiitendsupintO the 511- ingsp0ut2, so that it is impossible to have a substantial-float chamber,ifithe same is of the same diameter'throughoutlon account ofinterference With this pipe, By my. design, however, the float chambermay be dropped doyvn into the radiator off center until the floatchamber clears the said pipe and; then moved" to thetpropervposition vto's i t wt e. sa nto pl is a .i

In accordance'ivith the provisions of the patent statutes, I have hereindescribed the principle of operation of my inventiomtogether with theapparatus, which Inow .coni sider to represent the best embodiment'thereV of, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatusgsho vn isonly; illustrative and t that the invention can be, carried 1 out byother means, Also, whileit isdesigned to use the various features andelements in the combinationand, relations described, some of these maybe altered and others omitted vvithout interfering With the moregeneral. resu lts outlined, and the invention extendsfto such; use.

Having described my, invention-what I claim and desire to secure by.LetterslPatsaid member when the .vvateryis; low and means connectingsaid fioat andt indicator, or onerating h sa e. r a

2,111 a low Water 'ndijcator, the combination With'a radiator spout andcap, of a float located; belo v 'thegs'a'me andjspaced therefrom, A afloat chamben therefor enclosv ing the same, andfof not much greaterlengththan saidfloat, atube ofmuchless diameter than said chamberconnecting the same to the cap, whereby obstructions in the radiator,spoutneed not restrict the size 'oflthet fioat employed, aniindicator onsaid cap and means passing through said tube conneeting said indicatorand float.

3; In a low Waterindbat'or, the combina tion with an indicating member,of a float,

the float merely abuts when raisedagainst a float chamber havinganopening at'each end, a valve member for each of said openlngs, thelower valve member havmg a restricted opening for the purpose speolfiedand means connecting said float and indicat- 5 mg member to operate thesame. 7

4. In a loW Water indicator, the combination with .a radiator floatlocated below spout and cap, of a the same andspaced therefrom, a floatchamber therefor enclos- 10 ing the same, and of not much greater lengththan said float, said chamber having an upper and a lower opening bothof which are normally below the Water level. a tube of less diameterthan said chamber connecting the same to said cap an indicator on saidcap and means passing through said tube connecting said float andindicator.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature. a

ROYAL L. SCOVILLE.

